“The young people are the solution, not the problem”

published on 10/8/09 3:41 PM

For the third year in a row Bulgaria chose youth delegates for the regular autumn session of the UN General Assembly. This year their selection was made after active participation in the competition within the campaign “Bulgarian Youth delegates 2009/2010”. Almost 100 young people from the whole country took part. The campaign had the following three directions: a) National competition for election of two youth delegates for Bulgaria; b) National information campaign dedicated on the activities of the UN in the youth’s field and the problems of present interest that young people usually face in Bulgaria; c) national youth’s opinion research on the subject of problems of current interest for the youth and the country. With this campaign Bulgaria ranks among the leaders in the world and European plan to recognize youth as equal partners in decision-making. The campaign is supported by the Ministry of foreign affairs, the permanent mission of Bulgaria to the UN, the UN programme for Youth. A press conference on March 2009 laid the beginnings of the campaign.

Th candidates presented photos and wrote essays to outline the priorities they regard as most important. Three of them turned out to be most interesting for the Bulgarian youth: environment, the participation of the young people in decision-making and a constructive dialogue among generations.

Days before departing for New York, where from October 4th to 18th the UN General Assembly will hold its regular session, the Bulgarian delegates became initiators of the National youths’ meeting “Youths’ activity and initiatives for the World programme of the UN for young people”.

Kristina Popova, student last year at the American University in Bulgaria, is one of the two young people who will meet world diplomats at the highest level and will discuss the current world problems and the role of the young people for their solution.

“In principle the statement we want to deliver to the UN General Assembly fill focus on the 15 priority fields, which the world organization has defined in its programme for the young people. That includes the quality of education, employment, health care, globalization, global warming and the participation of the young people in social life. I consider that in the situation of a global financial crisis it is extremely important that the young Bulgarians have bigger opportunities to study in order to adopt better to the conditions we face today. Education should not be so theoretical but more orientated towards real practice. Thus the Bulgarian youth will be better prepared for the realities of life and the labour conditions that await them”.

According to Kristina Popova it is extremely important that young people take an active part in the process of decision-making and also lead an active dialogue with the older generation. Kristina Popova is convinced that in the 21st century this is a must. Thus the young people will accumulate enough real experience, which will help them when they start work. She is also convinced that the young people should have a more clearly stated civil position, that they should vote actively. Thus they will show to others that they have an opinion and that they must be heard. She firmly believes that the voice of the young people should be heard and that they should not allow others to think instead of them.

Written by: Ivan Lazov
English version: Ivaila Bozhanova

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